Comments on: Of mad writers and crazy cows…

By: glenda larke

glenda larke — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:35:01 +0000

Mind you, we don't actually have vampire bats in the Peninsula…

By: glenda larke

glenda larke — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:30:11 +0000

Apparently he was in intensive care for a day or two. He says he was using a parang to cut back undergrowth on an oilpalm estate and the cow attacked him from behind. Cows often graze in and around oil palm and are normally welcome.

I wonder if cows can get rabies from vampire bats? Hmmm.

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:11:29 +0000

If the farmer was holding a block of cattle salt lick in his hand and the cow was in desperate need then it may have mangled his hand to get to the salt.

I have never seen nor heard of a cow biting anything other than grass and fodder.

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:30:05 +0000

That's a bit like "I was attacked by 12 large men" when in reality it was one small guy with a knife.

I do know cows can be a problem, but ripping off his arm?? A mad cow indeed.

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:52:21 +0000

That was my first thought too, but I'm a farmer's daughter, brought up with cows. We had one really aggressive bad tempered animal I remember.

A cow's defence is to lower its head and charge. Just like a bull in a bullring, in fact. (Bulls don't bite either.)

I have a number of memories of racing across the field being chased by a cow with lowered head and two wicked looking horns aimed at my rear…but not bitten. Cows have teeth made for chewing grass, not ripping into enemies. In fact, I don't remember that they ever really hit us with their horns either. It was more bluff than anything.

By: Chet

Chet — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:39:49 +0000

I won't be surprised if the villager did something to agitate the cow, but of course, he would not admit to it.